Looking to disable the default WordPress sitemap on your website? While WordPress 5.5 automatically generates XML sitemaps, they may not have the advanced SEO features you need for better rankings. In this article, we’ll show you how to easily turn off the default WordPress sitemap and replace it with a more effective solution.
Understanding XML Sitemaps
An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the content on your website in an XML format. It helps search engines discover and index your content, leading to increased traffic and improved SEO rankings.
The Issue of Duplicate Sitemaps
Both the default WordPress sitemap and popular SEO plugins like All in One SEO, Yoast SEO, and Google XML Sitemaps create sitemaps for your website. This can result in two sets of sitemaps for the same WordPress page, which can confuse search engines and harm your SEO rankings.
Disabling the Default WordPress Sitemap with All in One SEO
If you’re using a popular SEO plugin like All in One SEO, it will automatically disable the default WordPress sitemap and provide a better alternative. Follow these steps:
1. Install and activate the free All in One SEO plugin to optimize your WordPress website.
2. Configure the plugin using our comprehensive tutorial on setting up All in One SEO in WordPress.
3. Go to the All in One SEO » Sitemaps page in your WordPress dashboard and review your sitemap settings.
4. In the “General Sitemap” tab, make sure the “Enable Sitemap” switch is set to “Active” to disable the default WordPress sitemap.
For improved SEO rankings, we recommend enabling the video, news, and RSS sitemaps.
Disabling the Default WordPress Sitemap via Custom Code
If you prefer manually disabling the default WordPress sitemap using code, follow these steps:
1. Install and activate the WPCode plugin, which allows you to add custom code snippets without modifying your theme’s functions.php file.
2. Access the “Code Snippets” option in your WordPress dashboard and click on “Add New.”
3. On the “Add Snippet” page, select “Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)” to input your code.
4. Name your code snippet and choose “PHP Snippet” as the code type.
5. Copy and paste the provided PHP code snippet into the “Code Preview” box.
6. Under the “Insertion” section, choose “Auto Insert” to apply the code sitewide.
7. Toggle the switch from “Inactive” to “Active” at the top right corner of the page and click “Save Snippet.”
Once you’ve saved and activated the code snippet, the default WordPress sitemap will be disabled.
In Conclusion
By disabling the default WordPress sitemap and using a more powerful solution, you can boost your SEO rankings. Whether you choose a WordPress SEO plugin like All in One SEO or implement custom code with WPCode, taking this step will ensure that search engines effectively index your content. For more WordPress SEO tips and recommendations, check out our comprehensive WordPress SEO guide.
